Saturday, June 23, 2012

White light enveloped the centre of the platform. The Hands
of Almalexia standing around it suddenly straightened, lowered their eyes in
the position of attention and respect. When the light cleared, none of them
looked up to see that it was not their goddess that had returned, but rather a
young woman, standing silently in the middle of Almalexia’s platform, her robe
charred and torn and covered in muck and blood. Her skin was scratched and
bleeding, her hair tangled and matted with sweat, every inch of her body
aching. Upon her belt hung Trueflame and Hopesfire, the twin blades. The Mazed
Band rested on her finger beside Moon-and-Star. And in her arms she carried a
clay jar, sealed at the top. Silently, Fen passed the silent Hands and walked
through the reception chamber, ignoring the stares of the priests and
Ordinators there.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Fen lowered Trueflame slowly,
unable to look at Sotha Sil’s mangled face any longer. Julan was standing just
behind her, his mouth open and his face twisted in horror. Fen seized his arm.

“We have to get out of here,”
she said frantically, her voice hoarse. Before Julan could respond, there was a
sudden roar of flames from the door. Fen and Julan turned, and the gold flames
died away, leaving a familiar figure standing in their midst. Fen’s eyes
widened.